Ricks: Petraeus and the Surge, Reconsidered

As Gen. David H. Petraeus flew into Baghdad in February 2007, preparing to take command of U.S. forces in Iraq, Col. Peter R. Mansoor, his executive officer, knelt alongside his seat. “You know, sir,” he said, “the hardest thing for you, if it comes to it, will be to tell the American people and the president that this isn’t working.”